The stage is set for a comeback in professional tennis by Serena Williams.
In an October document released by the International Tennis Carinity Agency, Williams’ name is on the list of players in the ITIA’s registered testing pool. Retired players, where Williams has been since the summer of 2022, apparently do not need to be tested for performance-enhancing drugs and other substances banned by the International Tennis Federation.
That development suggests the 44-year-old is planning, or at least considering, a return to the WTA tour. Tennis writer Ben Rothenberg also reports that Williams has filed the necessary paperwork to be officially reinstated on tour. Players must be in the testing pool for six months before they are allowed to compete. Williams has been in the pool since at least October (if not earlier), which means he will be able to take court in April of 2026 at the latest.
Tennis fans, who may also be interested in online slots, would obviously be watching Williams if she does, in fact, return next season.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion last played at the 2022 Open, where she defeated the second seed before losing in the third round to Ajla Tomljanovic. Despite her upset over Kontaveit, the last success of Williams in the region came in 2021, when she reached the semifinals of the Australian open (lost to Naomi Osaka) and the French open in the fourth round (lost to Elena Rybakina).
What would be a record-brearing 25th Slam title for Williams since 2017, when she won the Australian open by defeating her sister, Venus Williams, the second. The younger Williams has since finished runner-up in four majors, most recently at the US Open (lost to Bianca andreescu).
If there was a previous land No. The Australian open starts in mid-January, so it’s unlikely, unless he was part of the Itia pool much earlier than the Melbourne festivities are reportedly underway.
With Williams not a feature (at least not yet!), here are the current odds to win the Aussie open on the women’s side:
Aryna Sabalenka (+200)
Why don’t you like Sabalenka’s chances? World No. Sabalenka advances to three grand slam titles in 2025, most recently with victory at the US open. The Belarusian has not lost before the semis in any of the four slams. He finished the year with 14 wins in his last 16 games.
Iga Swiatek (+400)
Although Swittetk is at the highest level in clay, he cannot be reduced to any place. After all, he is a former Wimbledon (grass) and US open (hard court) champion. The pole vaulter has never reached the Aussie Open Championship match, but is a two-time runner-up (2022 and 2025). Waitetek tore down to extend this past period alongside the title in Seoul, Korea, but a few months off should be back in business during business hours.
Elena Rybakina (+750)
Rybakina ended the 2025 campaign as a gang member. The 11-time winning streak ended with titles in Ningbo, China and the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Rybakina defeated two other top players in the world, Sabalenka and Swilek, in Riyadh. WELMBLEDOn Wimbledon Champion is a former champion at Melbourne Park (lost to Sabalenka in 2023), which should give him more confidence in the next tournament.
Coco Gauff (+800)
Woe to the worshipers of the Gauffs. The 21-year-old still managed to win a grand slam title this season (Roland Garros), but a shocking case of double faults has damaged him for all of 2025. When Point starts, Gauff could be the best player in the world. That’s why he was cleared the third most impressive time in the world even though he likes a lot. If the gauff doesn’t go some way to shore up his game, he’ll be a thing in Melbourne again. The American was defeated in the fourth round, the semifinals, and the quarter-finals.
Mirra Andreeva (+900)
The issues of Gauff and Andreeva are seen as polar reserves. Gauff is mentally tough for most, but physically – at least in his case, things can go wrong. Andreeva has the physical tools for success, but her mental game was in the graveyard. That may be partly explained by his age. The 18-year-old has missed a number of big games that you won’t have in 2025, while often melting on the court. However, The No. 9 in the ranks and field already a one-time major league semifinalist and two-time quarterfinalist. Andreeva reached the Australian Open twice.
